By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
22 October 2025- The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Polokwane Municipality said it strongly opposes the municipality’s intention to procure a luxury vehicle for the Chief Whip — at a cost of up to R700 000. The DA said it does so both as a matter of principle and considering the pressing need for cost containment, at a time when fiscal prudence is a national priority.
DA Polokwane councillor: Admin and Governance, Androe Botha said this expenditure is in direct conflict with the Municipal Cost Containment Regulations, gazetted by National Treasury, as well as with the municipality’s own Cost Containment Policy. Botha said these regulations are designed to ensure that municipal resources are used effectively, efficiently and economically and to eliminate wastage of public funds on non-service delivery items.
“Every municipality is required to adopt and implement its own cost containment policy in line with these regulations. The municipality’s report to its Administration and Governance Portfolio Committee, which seeks to motivate the vehicle purchase, makes superficial reference to Treasury’s regulations but fails to comply with its own Cost Containment Policy.
“This policy expressly requires that the Accounting Officer must provide Council with, among other things, information on the extent of service delivery backlogs before such expenditure is approved,” she said.
Botha further said beyond their principled opposition to allocating a dedicated luxury vehicle to the Chief Whip, they cannot in good conscience support this proposal when essential municipal infrastructure and basic services are collapsing across Polokwane. She added that service delivery must take precedence over luxury perks for political office-bearers.
“Should the ANC-led council proceed with this ill-conceived and unnecessary purchase, the DA will not hesitate to report the matter to Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (Limpopo), as well as to the provincial and national Treasury.
“What this decision ultimately exposes is the absence of moral leadership and conscience with which the ANC continues to govern,” said Botha.
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